With an aim to improving public transportation, the Yogi government has plans to introduce cheap bus services in rural areas and also improve infrastructure at bus depots.
"This BJP government is committed to speeding up public transportation. For this, we need good buses, good roads and better infrastructure in bus depots. We are committed to providing the same in the next few months,” Transport minister Swantradeo Singh told 'The Pioneer' recently.
The minister said that conditions of buses were very bad and the bus depots lack basic facilities. "The passengers are not getting water to drink or shade where they can rest in this scorching summer. The previous Samajwadi Party regime has not done nothing to improve bus services in the state," said Singh.
“I can say this with confidence as I have traveled in state roadways buses after I took charge. I inspected a few depots and found facilities missing. I have spoken to commuters and know the problems they have been facing,” he said and added: “People have high hopes from the Yogi government and we will work hard to live up to expectations of the masses.”
The minister said that the government's priority is to increase bus services in rural areas. “We will ensure that all Gram Sabha were connected with bus service. These rural bus services would be cheap as compared to urban city buses and have more stoppages. We are working on the nitty-gritty of the rural bus services,” he said.
When asked about erratic Mahanagar bus service in lucknow, Singh said that the service needs to be streamlined. "This has been brought to my notice that city buses do not have designated stoppages and where stoppages are there, buses do not stop," he said.
“The Transport department will hold meeting with Nagar Nigam to identify designated bus stops. Once this is done, we will ensure that buses stop there. The passengers will be requested to board buses from those stops only,” Singh said.